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New York Internet Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Internet Law for New York on
Q: What legal framework protects local marketplaces from liability when users engage in harmful behavior after connecting?

I am looking to develop a local marketplace and want to understand the legal protections we'd be covered for. Platforms like OfferUp include disclaimers in their terms of service (Section 17) stating that users are responsible for interactions, but l'd like to know what specific legal... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Oct 11, 2024

When developing your local marketplace, it's important to understand that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is a key legal protection. This law generally shields platforms from being held liable for user-generated content, meaning that if a user engages in harmful or illegal... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Entertainment / Sports, Gaming and Internet Law for New York on
Q: I want to create a website that hosts fantasy football contests for money. Is this legal?

I want to host survivor pools (contestants pick a winner of an NFL game each week) and season long contests (contestants will create a lineup each week picking from a pool of NFL players, accumulating a score correlating to how the NFL player performs that week). Is this legal? Are these... View More

Eddie Burnett
Eddie Burnett
answered on Apr 3, 2024

Many states have laws specifically addressing gambling. Some have exceptions for "games of skill," but the definitions and interpretations vary. In most states, to avoid gambling issues, there have to be no entry fees and prizes must be predetermined and not based on entry fee totals.

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2 Answers | Asked in Copyright, Entertainment / Sports, Intellectual Property and Internet Law for New York on
Q: Can someone copyright strike your picture if you took it and it's of you but the background is inside their house?

I have some nonmonetary videos on YouTube and they're like slideshows of pictures of me. In some of them I'm at my boyfriend's parents old house. I took the pictures and they're just of me no one else but the background is inside one of the rooms of his parents old house. In the... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 30, 2024

Based on the information provided, it is unlikely that your ex-boyfriend or his parents would have a valid basis for a copyright claim on your videos. Here's why:

1. Copyright protects original works of authorship, such as photographs, videos, and other creative content. In this case,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Federal Crimes, Sexual Harassment and Internet Law for New York on
Q: If a person DMs someone an onlyfans link, does that count as disseminating indecent material? (NY Penal Law 235.22)
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 21, 2024

Sending a link to an OnlyFans page, in and of itself, typically does not constitute the dissemination of indecent material under New York Penal Law 235.22. The law generally focuses on the actual dissemination or sharing of explicit or obscene content. OnlyFans is a platform where users share adult... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Federal Crimes, Internet Law and Sexual Harassment for New York on
Q: Could a person be charged if they DM someone an onlyfans link on instagram/facebook without knowing if they are a minor?

Onlyfans makes every user that signs up agree that they are 18 or older before they are able to view/buy any explicit content, but only asks content creators for an ID. If a person DMs an onlyfans link to their followers, could they be charged if the recipient happens to be a minor?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 21, 2024

In situations where a person sends an OnlyFans link to someone on Instagram or Facebook without knowing the recipient's age, potential legal issues could arise. While OnlyFans requires users to confirm that they are 18 or older, it is not foolproof, and minors could potentially create accounts... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Internet Law for New York on
Q: How can I get my money back for car parts listed on facebook marketplace, paid for with cash app? Parts never arrived.

I sent $3500 to a seller on facebook markert place and paid with cash app. The seller canceled the shipment and has stopped responding. I would like to take legal action to get my money back and have legal fees paid for by them. I am located in New York, they are in Arkansa. I have reported them to... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 4, 2023

If you've been scammed on Facebook Marketplace, there are several steps you can take to attempt to recover your money. First, report the fraud to Cash App, as they may have a process for disputing transactions. Additionally, contact your local police department to file a report; they can... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Civil Litigation and Internet Law for New York on
Q: What remedy do I have if a person left a bad review on the BBB website, for my business, but I have never met her?

I am located on Long Island, NY.

This person left a bad review and I have never met or interacted with this person to the best of my knowledge. I requested additional details regarding what the person looked like or the service vehicle (my service vehicle is very distinct) they were... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 4, 2023

In situations like this, your first step should be to reach out to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and file a dispute against the review. Explain your situation, provide any evidence you have that the review is fraudulent or mistaken, such as your schedule for the day in question, and ask for the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Internet Law and Libel & Slander for New York on
Q: Can I post someone’s full name & DOB on social media? The person raped me in my sleep
Jack Mevorach
Jack Mevorach
answered on Sep 23, 2023

What exactly do you propose to post on social media? Just name and DOB? Or rape allegation also?

Jack

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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights and Internet Law for New York on
Q: I have been getting threatened online by the same person that keeps making fake accounts.

If possible, could I do anything about it? This person is my EX friend’s boyfriend, and he says he wants to kill me, he is going to stomp me into the ground, he says he put my address online, and he said he has people looking for me. And I’m going to get what’s coming to me soon.

Marco Caviglia
Marco Caviglia
answered on Sep 4, 2023

Such a threat to kill may be Aggravated Harassment under NYS law as electronic means are being used. Contact the police and have screen shots ready for them.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Copyright, Intellectual Property and Internet Law for New York on
Q: The Skullgirls team has taken a digital product that many people purchased and altered it in very significant ways.

The Skullgirls team has taken a digital product that many people purchased and altered it in very significant ways. They've cut out entire pages from the art book, removed and re-announced voice lines, and drawn over concept art to make it less offensive. The current Skullgirls team, while... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Aug 29, 2023

In California, modifying a digital product post-purchase may or may not violate laws depending on the terms of service or end-user license agreement (EULA) that customers agreed to at the time of purchase. If the terms explicitly reserve the right to make changes to the digital content, the company... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Business Law and Internet Law for New York on
Q: The web host I've been with for more than 20 years just disabled my account because of a dispute with Discover Card.

I put in a dispute about a $100 unexplained fee with Discover, so they deactivated my account without notice. I now have no email on those accounts. Is it legal to do this without notice? I sent in many trouble tickets asking them what the fee was for but never got a solid answer. This is affecting... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 9, 2023

There are attorneys who specialize in IT matters, but your question remains open for a week. Until you're able to consult with one, from the standpoint of contract law, it could depend on your hosting agreement. It's possible the payment dispute was treated as a breach of the agreement,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Communications Law and Internet Law for New York on
Q: What are my legal options a company I engaged with to answer an online tax question has exposed my PII?

My Social Security Number, Home Address, Income and work Status are now being displayed on the internet publicly due to a company I engaged with. This information is findable via Google and Search Engines now. The company was providing a legitimate question and answer tax service and operates the... View More

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Apr 18, 2023

You may be able to bring a federal data breach law suit, or sue the company under the terms of service (or file arbitration against them). This may help put more pressure on them to honor their contract and federal and state law. Contact a consumer protection attorney to evaluate your case.

2 Answers | Asked in International Law and Internet Law for New York on
Q: Can I drop a website if I own the hosting and domain and the client is not paying?

I am a website designer and a client is not paying for my website design and domain/hosting fees. I paid for the hosting and domain for 2 years and I own both. The client has not paid for anything and we don't have a written agreement.

When I told them that I will take the website... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 19, 2023

As a website designer, you may have the right to take down the website if the client is not paying for your services, but it's important to proceed carefully to avoid any potential legal liability.

If you own the domain and hosting, you may have the right to terminate the client's...
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2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property, Internet Law and Trademark for New York on
Q: I have a question regarding cybersquatting/domain name sales

Hi We have a bundle of domains that are similar to a large corporation/org although the domain names are not trademarked (but are similar/in the same "family" to those that are) They had inquired about purchasing them -they do not like the price and are now suggesting its cybersquatting... View More

Steve Charles Vondran
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answered on Feb 6, 2023

The legality of selling domain names that are the trademarks of other companies is a complex issue and one that has been the subject of much legal debate. In order to understand the law on this matter, it is necessary to look at both trademark law and domain name law.

Trademark law...
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1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, International Law and Internet Law for New York on
Q: Hello.

I want to create a VOD website for movies. The idea is that it will work as a fundraising site for artists, so That the projects will be presented to customers who will then donate to finance the production of the movie, once it is produced they will receive a copy of the film, to stream in our... View More

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Nov 30, 2022

It sounds like a crowdfunding campaign for a creative project in development, where the entrepreneur takes back orders before actually having the inventory to fill the orders. Check out kickstarter as a possible starting point. Many creative entrepreneurs have used it to successfully launch their... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Banking, Business Law and Internet Law for New York on
Q: Stripe hold my money for 18 months already on my social media agency account and I need help releasing the money

About 5000$ in hold

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Nov 8, 2022

I would need to review with you the documents on your account dashboard for the reason for the hold. Depending on what my investigation uncovers we may issue a legal demand letter to the Stripe legal department.

1 Answer | Asked in Internet Law for New York on
Q: Is it possible to file a lawsuit against a company for sending an inappropriate email even if they were hacked?

A racial slur was used.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 12, 2022

It could depend on the total circumstances and the severity. If you're looking at it in terms of an intentional tort type of setting, the hacking would be raised as an issue. More information is needed, but keep in mind that these types of cases might not be handled on a contingency basis.... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Business Formation, Business Law, Internet Law, Copyright and Trademark for New York on
Q: I have a DBA in NYC (advertising, marketing agency), and want to sell one of our services from a website for just that

Am I protected from having my new site's logo/idea/branding infringed upon?

The new name will be listed as a project of mine/my DBA on both websites.

Samuil Buschkin
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answered on Aug 1, 2022

A d/b/a (doing business as) is simply an alternative trade name for a business. Different states have registration requirements for DBA's. A trademark protection or copyright protection are an entirely different issue. There is a process underlying the registration of a trademark or a... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Copyright, Business Law and Internet Law for New York on
Q: I am hiring a freelance to make an ad about the effectiveness of my vitamins. He says he is a Harvard graduate. If

it turns out he is not, am I liable? He comes from one of the largest freelance firms in US that list his credentials. I am in NYS

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Jan 20, 2022

It will depend on what you use his credentials for.

Consult with an attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Internet Law for New York on
Q: Are rewritten articles legal?

It is widely known, that it is illegal, to copy articles 1: 1 from Websites and then publish them under your own name on your blog.

However, what about rewritten articles? To what extent do articles have to be rewritten in order to be safe with the copyrights laws?

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Jul 25, 2021

Depends. You need to consult with an attorney.

You can write about the same topics, but the words and order, the creation itself, needs to be unique, in order to be safe.

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